California Panel

Glenda Humiston

Glenda Humiston

Glenda Humiston was appointed by President Obama in 2009 to serve as the California State Director at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Development. Humiston brings over 25 years of experience working on public policy development and program implementation supporting sustainability. Prior experience includes service as a Peace Corps volunteer in Tunisia, Executive Director of a nonprofit advocating farmland preservation and value-added agriculture development, and several years as a consultant on environmental and agricultural issues throughout the western states. She served President Clinton 1998 – 2001 as Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment at USDA, managed the Sustainable Development Institute at the 2002 World Summit for Sustainable Development in South Africa, and the 2006 World Water Forum in Mexico City. Humiston earned her Ph.D. from U.C. Berkeley in Environmental Science, Policy and Management; a Master’s in International Agricultural Development from U.C. Davis and a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from Colorado State University. Recently she produced a widely acclaimed guidebook on “Access to Capital”.